Today on the square. "Svoboda" was opened an exhibition with the awarded photographs of the winners of the National Photo Contest "We Love Ruse". 76 photographs of 49 authors are presented, exhibited on panels next to the fountain in front of the building of the Municipality of Ruse. The National Photo Contest is organized for the fifth year by the Municipal Foundation "Ruse - City of the Free Spirit" and with the financial support of "Holleman Bulgaria" and "Tiva Plus". Everything good that is happening in Ruse inspired professionals, amateurs, children and young people to participate in the competition, who sent a total of 422 photos. Members of the jury were Galya Valacheva - representative of "Tiva Plus", Mladen Ganchev - manager of "Holleman Bulgaria", and Desislava Peeva - member of the Board of the Municipal Foundation "Ruse - City of the Free Spirit".

   The Director of the Education, Culture and Religious Affairs Directorate Tsvetoslav Dimitrov congratulated the participants on behalf of Mayor Pencho Milkov for the masterful way in which they managed to capture the beauty of Ruse.

In the "Aerial Photography" section with the photo "Television Blur", Milcho Yovchev was ranked first. In the "Events and Captured Moments" section, the first place was grabbed by Ivo Botev with an attractive photo from "Green Rock Fest Ruse" 2024. Anna Anastasova is the winner in the "Landscapes" section, "Professionals" category, with the photography "Rousse Sunset in the Sunflower Fields", and in the "Amateurs" category, the award went to Angel Angelov's photo - "Pigeons Looking for Coolness". In the "Landscapes" section, category "Children", the first prize was awarded to 15-year-old Denislava Georgieva from Varna with her photo "The Square in front of the Library". In the "Business of Ruse" section, category "Professionals", the grand prize was awarded to Denitsa Dimitrova and her photography "Harvest", and in the "Amateurs" the first was the photograph of Galina Mihaylova "Sparks in SL Industries Ruse". Vanyo Dimitrov received the first place in the category "Black and White Photography" with the touching photo "Generations". After a contested vote on the Facebook page of the municipal foundation, the audience award was received by Elitsa Todorova with the photo "View from the TV Tower", and the jury award was deservedly awarded to Yavor Michev.

The awarded photographers received cash prizes according to the regulations of the competition, and the ceremony was accompanied by the presentation of the exhibition in the open, which includes not only the awarded photographs, but also other beautiful images of Ruse, sent for participation in the competition. The exposition will delight the citizens of Ruse and the guests of the city in the coming weeks.

All photographs can be found on the Facebook page of the Municipal Foundation "Ruse – City of the Free Spirit" https://www.facebook.com/rusefreespiritcityfondacion/photos_albums.

A discussion was held in the building of the Municipality of Ruse on the topic "Local Integrity System Index 2024 – is there new energy for good governance in municipalities?". The event was organized by Transparency International Bulgaria and brought together representatives of several municipalities and non-governmental organizations.  Deputy Mayor Zlatomira Stefanova was also a guest of the event.

"The Municipality of Ruse has an ambition to be an example of transparency and efficiency. It is important for us to hear both the positive assessments and the deficits you identify. We do not take this as criticism,but as guidelines for improvement. One of the good practices that I want to emphasize is the existence of a municipal foundation, which is an example of decentralization and interaction between business and local authorities," said the Deputy Mayor.

Kremena Chobanova - project coordinator of the project, and Ilko Bozhkov - project finance manager, presented the summarized comparative preliminary results of the study of the institutions and sectors in the Local Integrity System. 

"The Association has been working for more than 26 years to strengthen anti-corruption measures and the capacity for good governance at central and local level in Bulgaria. Our goal is to support strategic and national measures by exploring capacity, role and governance – the main pillars of good governance," said Kremena Chobanova. 

She emphasized the positive practices in the Municipality of Ruse, focusing on the sustainable implementation of the standards for publicity and accountability, the management program based on basic principles and priorities, such as good communication with citizens and transparency of governance. Easy access to information through well-structured registers, including the municipal property register, good practices for engaging with civil society and involving citizens in public discussions. The administration also received a positive assessment for the successful participation in projects aimed at anti-corruption and good governance at local and national level. 

The discussion ended with a call to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and continue good practices for transparent governance.

Transparency International (TI) is a politically impartial coalition that operates through a network of over 90 offices around the world and an International Secretariat in Berlin, Germany. The organization's goal is to mobilize civil society and business structures, as well as representatives of government and academia in their attempts to reduce corruption at national, regional and international levels.

During the current winter season, the renovated Ice Rink in Ruse will offer Ruse residents and guests of the city a lot of entertainment for young and old. On the square in front of the State Opera in Ruse, "Municipal Markets" has again built an Ice Park, where delicious temptations can be found, as well as items typical for the season can be purchased. The winter facility is also the first operating facility in the country for the season.

On November 23 /Saturday/ at 10 a.m., the ice rink will offer its youngest visitors tea and sweets to support themselves while having fun. At the disposal of the attendees will also be wooden houses with various sweet and salty delicacies, a lot of entertainment, games for children and adults, various Christmas decorations and gifts.

During this winter season, people who want to preserve their holiday memories are again considered. An attractive photo frame will invite those who want to take pictures, and the Christmas fireplace will bring additional mood, coziness and warmth. The mailbox will give the youngest the opportunity to send their wishes to Santa Claus, and the answer from the Good Old Man is guaranteed. Visitors can also write their letter on the spot, and for this purpose they will receive a free envelope and a form from the cash desk of the rink. On December 25, Santa Claus himself will arrive from Lapland to distribute gifts to the children.

Traditionally, every Saturday in December, fairy-tale characters will delight the little ones, and will also skate with them.

On the last day of the outgoing year, the Municipality of Ruse invites all residents of Ruse and guests of the city to a festive concert to welcome 2025.  The event will be held on the stage in front of the building of the Municipality of Ruse, and it will start at 11 p.m. A special guest on New Year's Eve will be one of Bulgaria's favorite stars - the singer, composer and music producer Vladi Ampov - Grafa.

The festive mood will be taken care of by the radiant and talented hosts Dimitar Pishev and Svetlina Stancheva, known to the people of Ruse from the stage of the State Puppet Theater, and for several years as a duet "Postscript". The artistic couple has prepared many surprises for the audience, as well as emotional performances of their own songs.

After the success of "The Happiest Tour", the winner of the "Crystal Lyre" Grafa is ready to give the Ruse audience a unique musical experience and charge it with a powerful dose of positivism for the start of the new year 2025.

A lot of music and mood will be accompanied by the lighting of the Christmas tree lights in front of the building of the Municipality of Ruse. On December 4 /Wednesday/ at 6 p.m., Mayor Pencho Milkov will traditionally start the Christmas and New Year holidays in the city. The event is organized by the Municipal Children's Center for Culture and Art.

The festive program will begin at 5 p.m. with performances by the Children's Vocal Group "Sun" led by Dr. Natalia Konstantinova. Folk dance ensemble "Zdravets" with chief artistic director Dimitar Donev will present its interpretations of folk dances. The youngest performers from the Vocal Group "Prista", as well as the trio "Prista" will perform on the stage - all under the direction of Dorothea Balovska at the Municipal Youth Center.

The attendees of the festive concert will also enjoy the mastery of the Folklore Dance Theater "Nayden Kirov" with artistic director Bogdan Donev. Desislava Vassileva and Magdalena Todorova from the Pop and jazz studio "Ikonomov" at the Municipal Youth Center, led by Vili Ikonomov.

The most anticipated guests - Santa Claus and Snow White, will also join the lighting of the Christmas lights and will call on the citizens of Ruse to meet the bright days with peace and love in their hearts.

For the third consecutive year, the symbol of the Christmas and New Year holidays in the city will be the large natural tree in front of the building of the Municipality of Ruse.